| iPhone Road Test: Day 1
Apple has given us an iPhone for an extended review period and we figured that, having reported on so much of the hype surrounding the gadget, this would be the perfect opportunity to put it through its paces. We decided that, rather than take the more usual review approach of dissecting the device, we would take readers through a day-by-day use of the phone to offer a review that more closely resembles what most users are going to go through. Since the reviews will be written by me, I think it's important to offer some context, as different people are going to have different experiences of the iPhone based on the devices they've used before and what they typically use their phone to do. I've used smartphones for many years now, currently a Sony Ericsson P990i with a 4GB memory card, and generally make use of most of the features they provide.
iPodObserver - AT&T Quietly Adds Option to Drop iPhone Data Plan
Users who've signed up to manage their iPhone on AT&T's Website will find that AT&T has quietly provided the option to drop the iPhone data plan at US$20/month. You'll still be able to access the Internet via Wi-Fi, but you'll lose Visual Voicemail, SMS Text Messaging bundles, and Unlimited Data, which includes both email and web via EDGE. After your log onto your AT&T account, look for this section and click on "Add/Manage Features." .
Make your list, check it twice, for holiday travel gifts
Looking for a holiday gift for someone who loves to travel? Here are some recommendations from experts across the travel industry, from cruise specialists and Web site editors, to Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler and Delta flight attendant David Lang. (Retail prices may vary.) For the trip • Recommended by Amy Ziff, editor-at-large for Travelocity: Bose noise-cancelling headphones ($300-$350), a pure pashmina shawl ($75-$100), a 55-hour iPod Battery Extender ($80), Peace of Mind On-the-spot relief (lotion) from Origins ($10). • Recommended by Mark and Mimi Comfort, who run the Cruise Holidays booking agency in Kansas City, Mo.: a handheld travel scale for weighing luggage ($10). • Recommended by James Samans, author of "Spontaneous Tourism: The Busy Person's Guide to Travel": external power for computer notebooks ($65-$600), a 3M Privacy Filter for LCDs ($50-$150).
Featured Column: Striking Back
October 23 was potentially one of the biggest days in the music industry this decade. No, there wasn't an important new record release and I don't know yet if an amazing guitarist was born. In this case, the effect on music was more indirect. The popular downloading site oink was finally shut down. While the major effect of the legal action was to prevent people from having easy access to an unending reservoir of illegal downloads, there also was an endless series of debates all over the Internet. People who were in favor of downloading got into it with those of us opposed and many innocent bytes were sacrificed. While some people were honest and said that they just liked getting free music and didn't care about the consequences, others tried to explain why their actions weren't wrong.
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